So, despite their love for the man, Syd was barred from entering Abbey Road studios when Pink Floyd was recording. Syd went on to do a few slapped together solo records, with Roger and Dave actually helping with the production, and then Syd entered oblivion, thus propelling his cult like status to mythic proportions. In 1969, Pink Floyd was Britain’s top rising psychedelic band, but they were no where near the megastars they became by 1973. Still, they carried enough swagger to be offered the chance to provide a soundtrack for “More,” an avantgarde film about heroin. The song below, “Cymbaline,” is a gorgeous psychedelic folk ballad that feels more like Simon and Garfunkel than it does “Interstellar Overdrive.” I think at their heart, Pink Floyd were more folk rockers than anything else. Their best songs, no matter how steeped they are in special effects, crushing guitar solos, and wailing experimentation, are folk ballads. “Cymbaline,” a twisted song about a nightmare, was a progressive step forward the band, and would point to the future dramatic heights they would aim for. By the way, this video performance, is a fantastic moody and cinematic slice of footage of the band in its most natural setting, a church. Enjoy.
